President's Perspective

Doylestown Health is a system of care that provides comprehensive services. We have many parts, such as the hospital, retirement community, urgent care, home care, skilled nursing and outpatient services. There are 450 physicians who offer a wide network of primary care as well as specialists and subspecialists with capabilities to provide complex treatments and procedures.

For example, our endovascular surgeons have new technology to bypass blockages in the carotid artery and vastly improve the quality of a patient's life. TCAR (Transcarotid Artery Revascularization) is a minimally-invasive technique that also reduces the risk for stroke and other problems caused by clots.

While we've long been among the pioneers in robotic surgery for gynecology, urology, and general surgery, our physicians are now expanding the use of robotics in colorectal and hernia procedures. Robotic surgery results in less blood loss, scarring and pain, as well as faster recovery.

In the complex realm of spine surgery, our physicians advocate for conservative treatments as a first step. However, when it is clinically appropriate, we are prepared and equipped to provide minimally-invasive microsdiscetomy to relieve chronic back pain. This 30-minute procedure, followed by outpatient therapy and exercise, can return our patients to a normal life.

It is with these and a vast array of other routine and specialty services in mind that we recently launched One Vision: The Campaign for Doylestown Health to raise funds for Doylestown Health's second century of healthcare excellence.

The campaign is comprehensive, casting a wide net for new construction, renovations and programs that will impact the entire health system, beginning with the new, 100,000-square-foot Center for Heart and Vascular Care that will open in 2019. Also next year, we will complete the new Community Center for the Pine Run Community. Our 500 "Villagers" will enjoy new dining and educational venues as well as a fitness center and pool.

One Vision is also transformative and ambitious. We are investing in people and programs for the future of healthcare and our community, and we are so grateful that others share our vision. Our goal is to raise $75 million. As we make our campaign public and invite the entire community to participate, we are so pleased to report that we have $30 million in pledges and gifts already in hand.

It takes vision to build a comprehensive health system, vision that is not new to us. It was present at our founding in 1923 by the women of the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown, and it is evident today in the quality and compassion of the care and caregivers – and investments of our donors – who are preparing Doylestown Health for even greater things to come.